Friday, September 30, 2011

Top Ten Advances in Women's Rights in Saudi Arabia

This past week King Abdullah, the leader of Saudi Arabia, allowed women to vote in municipal elections starting in 2015 and recently overturned a court's ruling to lash a Saudi woman ten times for driving. But these advances in women's rights in the oil-rich nation weren't the only ones that had occurred. What other victories have Saudi Arabian women won of late?

10) A Saudi woman can now walk freely without a male relative provided they are with Tony Shaloub.

9) Wives now protected from domestic abuse under animal cruelty laws.

8) Women can now run for Advisory Council positions with the provision that every time the council convenes they must sit on the face of at least one male member of the Royal Family.

7) Black tweed and wool burqas can now be replaced in the summer months with charcoal gray cotton burqas.

6) No longer mandatory that Saudi female infants be born with hijabs.

5) No longer mandatory that Saudi women be immediately immolated with a blowtorch for speaking Gloria Steinem's name but it is still optional.

4) Saudi rape victims can no longer be whipped or executed for being victimized but they must promise to never again arouse the male libido with suggestive burqas.

3) Saudi women to be issued driver's licenses in 2014 but are restricted to bumper cars.

2) Wives and daughters no longer forced to eat with female camels in the barn.